A great day

Some days are good, some days are bad and some are simply great. Today was a great day.

Yes, today was my birthday and by default a god given national holiday, but it was more than that. Normally, I week to a month before my birthday I like to send out reminders. "Don't forget about my special day April 2nd," the emails would read. This year, I decided to play it a little low key this year. Not because I dislike being 32, and not because I was trying to be coy. I was trying to be low key because quite frankly, I am freaking out about the fact that I am defending in less than 10 days.

6 am - Wake up. Eat Frosted mini-wheats. Go for a wog. Weather is a perfect 40-50 degrees, and sunny. Have a very hot shower, then crawl into bed.

9 am - Watch host chat on "Live with Regis and Kelly."

9:15 am - Realize that I am never going to win a free vacation to Aruba from them.

10 am - Get a singing voice mail from my sister. Yes, I am obnoxious, but I like the "Happy Birthday" song. As I am listening, I get a message from the all elusive Manolo. Hugs and kisses to you too, Baby.

10:15 am - Go online and read all my messages. I love it when my mailbox is NOT empty. You see unlike you all who have real jobs and emails have become an unbearable burden, I don't have that problem. Continue to goof off online.

11:45 am - Finally, leave house and saunter to school. When I walk in to the lab V shouts Happy Birthday.

12:45 pm - Order a bacon burger from the Mission. It is made exactly right. Brioche bun is grilled and crispy on one side. Patty is a perfectly cooked medium and I get 5 strips of smoked applewood bacon instead of the normal 4. Also, came back with a good story. As I went to pay for my burger I saw three construction guys drinking SoCo and whiskey.

1:45 pm - Almost snarf the water in my mouth when I see incriminating photo sent to me by A.

I will skip afternoon activities because some of it involved me freaking out about my work and having an awkward conversation with my advisor.

5 pm - Sent off emails to people who may want to attend my defense.

6:30 pm - Leave lab with V. Debate night time activities. Decide to go to Intramural Softball game.

6:45 pm - Listen to more singing messages on my home number. Almost cry from laughter. Parents apparently have decided to play nice this year and did a joint message. (Some years they call separately and secretly, in a weird competitive need to be the better parent.)

8:20 pm - Am leaving apt. for the game which starts at 9:30pm. Run into my landlord. Tell him that I am defending and that I might want to throw a party at my apartment. Wanted to know if that would be okay. "Of course," he said. "Actually, why don't you have it at our place? We can get it catered and everything. Invite all your friends. Oh we would be so happy to do it." Then as we walked outside together, he said " You know I ran into CA (someone I went to high school with) and I told her what an amazing person you are. Oh and she say hi." I almost started crying right there. (And FYI, I cannot in good conscience make my elderly landlords throw me a party, but still...)

9:10 pm - I have been waiting for the bus for about half an hour. I am freezing. I see a guy with a bunch of Trader Joe bags. He definitely has had enough too. He tried to wave down a cab. I ask him if he wants to split one and he say yes. He did not realize that there was a cab stand across the street. He is so grateful, that he insists on paying the whole fare and does not take my money.

9:30 pm - Playing softball with the Dudley team. We have three good players. The undergrads we are playing are a bunch of very muscular boys, who actually know the rules of the game. We do not, nor do we have a captain. But we have spirit!

10:15 pm - I pitch for our team. We are losing 23-1 so it really does not matter. One of the boys send a smashing grounder into my ankle. Am about to cry because it hurts so much, but get to throw his ass out on First. Get high fives from the opposing team. Feeling like a huge studdette.

11:20 pm - Get home and get more emails. Yay! Some of these are from old profs, who now want to come to my defense. Am feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Start writing blog entry so every can share in my happy mood.

Thank you everyone who sent me lovely emails and phone messages, I have not stopped smiling all day. Thank you everyone who had no idea it was my birthday because you are awesome. And thank you all you random people who were just really nice to me today for no good reason.

Sorry I am so sappy, but it is still my day darn it. At least for another 6 minutes.